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Home > Blogs > West Chester News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > October
October 2008
Lawyer: Police chief demands public apology
Police Chief John Bruce is demanding trustees here publicly apologize for comments they made in response to an internal investigation that suggested he instructed his nephew to lie on an application.
To view the letter, click “Continue…” below.
A letter was sent Tuesday from Bruce’s attorney, Mark Mezibov, to township attorney Donald Crain, that said “…Trustees have publicly impugned Col. Bruce and stigmatized his professional reputation by imputing to him acts of dishonesty and unprofessional conduct.”
In the letter, Mezibov states: “Col. Bruce demands that the Trustees issue a prompt public apology and correction at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.”
But at least one trustee has said a public apology isn’t warranted.
“I don’t believe the Board has taken any action for which they should apologize to anybody,” said Trustee Catherine Stoker.
As of this afternoon, trustees George Lang and Lee Wong, declined to comment.
Here’s the letter sent to township attorney Donald Crain.
Mezibov said his client’s professional career could be negatively impacted by comments trustees made in response to the internal investigation that appeared in the Oct. 25 edition of the Journal-News. Read that story here.
The attorney said Bruce should at least have an opportunity to clear his name in a public hearing if an apology is denied.
The investigation, launched late last month, concluded Donald Gatliff, 27, of West Chester Twp., was not forthcoming to investigators about his background, and that Bruce advised him to do so.
Bruce was exonerated for any wrongdoing by the investigation. Read the full story here.
Question: Do you think trustees should publicly apologize to Bruce? Should he have an opportunity to “clear his name” as the letter suggests?
Permalink | Comments (22) | Post your comment | Categories: Chief Search
A few notes about the election
As of this writing, Oct. 29, there is less than a week before most Ohioans step up to the polls and cast their ballot.
A larger than expected number of people have already voted. Here are the numbers as of Friday, Oct. 24.
Before we look at a few stories that have an impact in our area, I want to know:
Do you have voter fatigue as we near the finish line on what has become a nearly 18-month election cycle?
What issues are most important to you locally, and how will it sway your vote one way or another?
More than ever before are you able to search out volumes of information on candidates. Has the Internet been a good thing or a bad thing this election season?
Butler County reporter Josh Sweigart has been feverishly covering voters’ interests (on both sides of the aisle) for months. Here are a few recent highlights:
In case you hadn’t noticed, the race for Butler County auditor came to a head earlier this month, as Democrat candidate Jack Zettler accused Republican incumbent Roger Reynolds of giving “sweet” appraisal deals to his political pals.
Reynolds said Zettler’s claims “crossed the legal line.”
Zettler even implicated others, like Commissioner Gregory Jolivette, in his charge.
Here’s how the whole thing shakes out.
Here’s a look at campaign spending for Zettler, Reynolds and Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones.
And, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner reminded voters recently they could use the paper or digital method to cast their ballots on Tuesday. Click here to look up your polling place.
Click here to see what others are saying about their preferred voting method.
Finally, who could forget about Samuel Wurzelbacher, who swooped into Middletown Oct. 28 to provide the plumbers’ perspective.
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Police recruit will resign ‘to save face’
This story is slated to appear in the Tuesday, Oct. 28, edition of the Journal-News.
Thoughts?
By Dave Greber Staff Writer
WEST CHESTER TWP. — A prospective police officer will turn in his resignation Tuesday, Oct. 28, after an internal investigation concluded he concealed a history of drugs and crime, and that his uncle, Police Chief John Bruce, told him to do so.
West Chester Trustees gave 27-year-old Donald Gatliff until their meeting Tuesday night to resign or face probationary dismissal.
Gatliff said Monday, Oct. 27, he would hand-deliver a letter of resignation to Bruce in hopes of continuing a career in law enforcement elsewhere.
“I’m going to tender my resignation (Tuesday) afternoon so I can save some face, and maybe have a future in law enforcement,” Gatliff said.
Trustees launched an investigation into the police department’s hiring practices late last month after a background check revealed Gatliff was the nephew of Bruce’s wife, Denise — the township’s director of communication and information technology.
After delving deeper into Gatliff’s background, investigators said they found the local resident had not fully disclosed his past drug use and criminal history.
Bruce said he was fully aware of Gatliff’s criminal and drug usage history, much of which occurred when he was a juvenile, though he admitted to investigators last using illegal drugs at age 21. Township rules allow Bruce to make hiring decisions “unilaterally.”
Bruce also said Gatliff scored “above average” on his written test and psychological evaluation; and that he “exceeded minimum requirements and got the highest score possible” on the department’s physical test. His results were better than the other two candidates, Bruce said.
Gatliff applied to the township police department in March. Trustees spent nearly $10,000 to put Gatliff through half of an 18-week training program with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Bruce told officials he was “protecting a police officer and his family” from embarrassment, according to the investigation.
Township officials have said Bruce violated no state or local laws in his actions during the hiring process.
“The board is disappointed and only scrutinizing the lack of disclosure in revealing information,” said Township Administrator Judi Boyko upon hearing of Gatliff’s intent to resign.
Trustees are expected to accept Gatliff’s resignation without taking formal action.
“The board is not judging or condemning this man for youthful indiscretions,” Boyko said. “The board hopes and wishes that he can fulfill all his professional endeavors in the future.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.
The two original stories that appeared Saturday, Oct. 25, can be found here, and a more in-depth version here.
For the original blog post, that includes the township’s investigation report, click here.
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Investigation says chief told nephew to lie on application
UPDATE: Poster “Suzy” asks a good question below regarding public records. Normally, “Suzy” would be correct when it comes to juvenile records not being a part of the public domain.
However, the juvenile records (and all other records in this instance, for that matter) are a part of the larger investigative file, and therefore public.
Now on to the story…
A police officer trainee was asked to resign this week even before donning a badge after an internal investigation concluded he lied on his application about a past of drug use and criminal behavior, and that he was told to do so by his uncle, Police Chief John Bruce.
The investigation was released to us today. There will be much more to come of this (from both sides) in the days and weeks to come, so stay tuned.
For the investigation report, click “Continue reading …” below and scroll down. Thoughts?
In the meantime, read tomorrow’s front page story here, and a more in-depth version here.
UPDATE: Gatliff called me Friday evening and laid out his side of the story.
He said he has not seen the actual investigation report, although he has said he has been told trustees would accept his resignation until their meeting on Tuesday night.
Gatliff said he has not made a decision about whether to resign.
Still, he said: “If I get fired, I can pretty much kiss law enforcement in Ohio goodbye.”
He also said he was nearly complete with 10 weeks in the 18-week training academy sponsored by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
“I dedicated 10 weeks of my life, and I wish I could have gotten my certification and secured something (a position in law enforcement) in Ohio.”
From his perspective, Gatliff said Bruce “was trying to control information. He wasn’t trying to hide anything.” (Read more about that below.)
The following are some things that didn’t make it in the print versions, but are significant nonetheless:
The township paid Gatliff $8,071.91 in salary during his training, and $2,500 to send him to the Academy.
While Bruce says he has never violated the township’s policies or laws, investigators believe that the perspective of impropriety was enough. According to the report: Investigators said it was a problem because, “public trust is paramount to the operation of the police department. If the practice of the department is to manipulate documents such as this, the question would legitimately be raised as to what other documents could be manipulated for the protection of officers.”
Bruce said several times during our interview that “There is not one time that a document was changed or altered, or that all of the information wasn’t available somewhere,” mostly to him.
Here’s a link to a recent post about the search for a new chief, which has been ongoing since trustees declined in June to extend a three-year contract for Bruce. The post also includes comments from Bruce about his frustration for being left out of the selection process.
And the stories that discuss the search process more in depth here and here.
Most respondents had glowing remarks for Bruce, whose employment with the township has spanned nearly three decades. What are your thoughts now?
The investigation report follows. To view it larger, click on the upper right corner of the box. To exit from the larger view and comment, click the ‘x’ again in the upper right corner.
Permalink | Comments (40) | Post your comment | Categories: Chief Search
Local company tapped to manufacture diabetes drug
Here’s more good news for Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., who recently inked a supply agreement with Eli Lilly and Co. to produce a still experimental, once-weekly Type 2 diabetes drug.
We’re talking big money here for the company building a $400 million facility off Trade Port Drive, according to a story by business reporter Jessica Heffner.
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: West Chester Twp. Business
The search for a new chief
We’re running a pair of stories this week that take a closer look at the township’s search for a new leader of its police department.
Rather than asking them to comment on the interview process, or state why they would be qualified (which they couldn’t or wouldn’t do anyway), I took a look at each candidate’s personnel file and provided a quick synopsis of their backgrounds.
The candidates are: Captains Joel Herzog and David Kelly and Lt. Erik Niehaus.
Read the first story here, and find out more about the three men here.
Earlier this year, West Chester Twp. Trustees decided not to renew the contract of Chief John Bruce, which expires Dec. 31. A discussion last month that focused on their decision showed the frustration some trustees saw as a bad “double-dipping” policy.
Bruce told me earlier this week that Herzog and Kelly deserve the nod over Niehaus because of their experience at the command level.
And he also expressed his frustration over being left out of the selection process, saying, “Don’t get me wrong, I love this community. It’s been such an honor to serve in this position,” Bruce said. “But it’s just unfortunate they (township officials) won’t let you go without beating you out the door.”
What are your thoughts about the township’s next chief? How did Bruce do throughout his 29-year career in West Chester?
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More race, racism in the 2008 election
A few weeks ago, I posted a story about a reader showing his/her unhappiness by pasting a handmade sign on the front door of the Journal-News.
The sign was apparently created in response to something a source said in one of our stories.
In the story, 84-year-old Julia Ward, who is white and a poll judge for the past five decades, said “black people aren’t smart enough to rule the country. No one should vote for (Sen. Barack) Obama.”
“They just don’t think like the white. I would hate to see (Obama) in office because blacks just aren’t qualified,” she said.
Here’s a similar story from reporter Anthony Shoemaker, and although it’s not hyper-local to West Chester or Liberty townships, it’s something I just couldn’t ignore.
Here’s a guy who said he wouldn’t vote for Sen. Barack Obama ‘BECAUSE’ (emphasis added) of his race. Then, he erected a display in his front yard that included a ghost, hanging by a noose with a sign that read “Hussain Obama.”
The city of Fairfield released a statement today:
“Over the last several days, one of our residents has chosen to express his self-described racist views publicly. This individual’s isolated opinion, as depicted in a yard display, does not represent the values of our community. The elected and appointed officials of Fairfield, Ohio do not condone the actions of this individual and find this behavior abhorrent. It is unfortunate that this resident has chosen to use his First Amendment rights in this despicable manner.”
That’s a strong statement from the so-called bedroom community in southern Butler County. Good for them.
So I’ll ask the question again (as I did a few weeks ago): How much will race factor in this election for you? Are this man’s actions wrong?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: 2008 Election
Palin rally changes campaign criticism
There were probably just under 10,000 people at the rally Friday, Oct. 17, at The Square @ Union Centre in West Chester featuring Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
Here’s a few things I noticed:
First, the energy was very high … despite the cold weather … and Palin seemed to notice;
The venue worked out very well. Organizers reported no issues, and the backdrop of the clock tower was picturesque.
The Lakota West High School Band played before her appearance sans uniforms;
Palin’s focus changed from last week … from criticizing the Obama/Biden ticket about their connections to Bill Ayers to their alleged connections to ACORN (to which ACORN previously responded on their Web site Oct. 13 saying John McCain spoke at an ACORN function in February.)
She prefaced nearly every statement about the Obama/Biden ticket by saying it wasn’t negative campaigning “if it was calling someone on their record.” That’s much different than her approach in Lebanon a few weeks ago, or during and shortly after the vice presidential debate.
Here’s a sort-of-related tidbit. Scott Owens, the McCain/Palin campaign chairman for Butler County, said yesterday his assistant joined Palin’s assistant for a little shopping in downtown Cincinnati for the outfit the Alaska governor will wear on Saturday Night Live tonight. Not sure about you, but I can’t wait to see Palin and Tina Fey together. Show starts at 11:35 p.m. on NBC.
Here’s a few stories from yesterday’s rally. Here and here.
Did you attend? What did you think? Did you like the venue? How good was it for West Chester and southwest Ohio? What about the timing? Will she or McCain be back before Nov. 4?
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How much does it cost to host a political rally?
After spending the week crunching the numbers, West Chester Twp. officials said late this afternoon, Oct. 16, that it could cost $20,000 in personnel to cover Gov. Sarah Palin’s visit on Friday.
While that figure includes overtime and benefits, it does not include costs for possible restoration after the McCain/Palin campaign leaves town.
Township Administrator Judi Boyko said earlier this week the entire cost would be reimbursed by the campaign, although I’m still waiting on an answer from Ohio Campaign Chairman Paul Lindsey about whether this is a typical or a rare occurrence.
Here’s a story about the costs incurred when the Obama/Biden campaign rolled through West Chester via I-75, forcing the closure of several exits, and the 2004 rally featuring President George Bush.
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Picking up tickets for Palin? Here’s how
UPDATE TWO: Here’s a story we just posted about additional information needed if you’re planning on attending Friday’s rally.
UPDATE: I’m being told the Butler County McCain/Palin campaign is working with members of the advance team to secure additional spots for parking. We’ll have more later today, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, today, Oct. 16, is the last day to pick up tickets that are required to attend tomorrow’s rally. Both locations will be open until 8 p.m. Find out more below.
Members of the McCain/Palin campaign were met today, Oct. 15, by lines of people wanting tickets for the vice presidential nominee’s visit to West Chester Twp. on Friday.
There are two locations in Butler County to grab the limited supply of tickets, which began flying out of campaign workers’ hands just before 8:30 a.m.
Butler County GOP Headquarters 5964 Golf Club Lane Hamilton, Ohio 45011 (513) 893-5292
Friends of John Boehner-Campaign Office 7908 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd Suite I West Chester, Ohio 45069 (513) 779-8435 or (800) 228-8551
Event-goers must fill out names and addresses of prospective ticket holders. That means, if you’re planning to pick up tickets for others, like co-workers, friends or family members, you have to have their addresses in addition to their names. There is no limit for tickets … so long as you have the info you need.
If you’re heading out to one of these locations today, expect some lines. Tomorrow will be much of the same, as thousands are expected to attend the rally at the Square @ Union Centre on Friday. For more on that story, click here.
Parking will be limited.
West Chester Twp. officials said they have secured two spots: The field near the Union Centre Loop (where the Embassy Suites will be built later this year) and the vacant lot across from U.S. Bank. They only hold about 1,200 vehicles, according to Township Administrator Judi Boyko, so many people will have to fend for themselves.
Street closings are as follows: Centre Pointe Drive from Centre Loop Drive to Centre Loop Drive, and Towne Centre Drive, just north of Centre Loop Drive, will be closed to traffic starting Thursday, Oct. 16, and will remain closed until after the event, according to Barb Wilson, the township’s public information officer. Additional closures may be needed on Friday, she said.
Boyko said that traffic will be maintained to area businesses during normal hours of operation.
Here’s an embedded pic of the area, using The Learning Kitchen as the nearest address: (Toggle the window to move the map.) The actual address is 9285 Centre Point Drive, but you may not find it using Internet mapping sites.
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Palin visit update … and more questions
Before we get into the details, here’s another question for you: What’s the one question you want to ask Sarah Palin if you had the chance when she visits on Friday in West Chester?
Drop your comment below.
Now…
West Chester officials spent the afternoon today, Oct. 14, continuing to work out the details of Friday’s visit of Gov. Sarah Palin.
For the whole story, click here.
The township will have two designated parking spots, the first in a field where the new Embassy Suites will be built later this year; the second across from U.S. Bank along Union Centre Boulevard. Both are within walking distance. However, the lots are only expected to hold between 1,000 and 1,200 vehicles, meaning a lot of people will have to fend for themselves if organizers are correct in their estimations today.
Here’s an embedded pic of the area, using The Learning Kitchen as the nearest address: (Toggle the window to move the map.)
Nearby businesses will also be notified in the coming days, and if they have concerns about event-goers parking in their lots, they are asked to police the area themselves, according to Township Administrator Judi Boyko.
Centre Pointe Drive from Centre Loop Drive to Centre Loop Drive, and Towne Centre Drive, just north of Centre Loop Drive, will be closed to traffic starting Thursday, Oct. 16, and will remain closed until after the event, according to Barb Wilson, the township’s public information officer. Additional closures may be needed on Friday, she said.
Boyko said that traffic will be maintained to area businesses during normal hours of operation.
Wilson also said the McCain/Palin campaign will be reimbursing the township on all costs incurred. A “ballpark” figure is expected to be given to the campaign later this week, Wilson said, and then a more accurate figure is expected by the event.
Questions can be directed to the township’s information line at (513) 759-3036.
Questions about tickets can be directed to the Butler County GOP’s Headquarters, (513) 893-5292, or the Friends of John Boehner West Chester office at (513) 779-8435 or (800) 228-8551.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: 2008 Election
BREAKING NEWS: Palin coming to West Chester
We just broke this story on our site a few moments ago. So, I want to know … will you go? What are your expectations?
WEST CHESTER TWP. — Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is scheduled to visit this township’s downtown Friday, officials from her local campaign, said today, Oct. 14.
The first local visit from the Alaska Governor is expected to draw thousands to the Square @ Union Centre, a newly built community park situated near Lakota West High School and the heavily traveled Union Centre Boulevard.
Officials from the Palin campaign said they are sending out more than 150,000 “robo-calls” this afternoon to alert local supporters of her pending arrival.
Gates open at 8:30 a.m., Friday, with pre-programming beginning at 10:30 a.m. Palin is expected to take the stage at 11:30 a.m.
Tickets will be required for the event, and can be picked up starting Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Butler County GOP Headquarters, 5964 Golf Club Lane, and the West Chester office of the Friends of John Boehner, 7908 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd Suite I. Both facilities will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Township officials will be meeting with members of the McCain/Palin campaign today to determine logistics for the visit, including road closures, checkpoints and gates and available parking.
Scott Owens, the chairman of the McCain/Palin campaign in Butler County said today he had the site picked out “probably two months ago.”
“I had to lobby as the McCain chair why that site would be good and everybody bought into it,” Owens said, adding the visit once again thrusts southwest Ohio, and more specifically Butler County, into the national spotlight.
“I think this just proves once again the importance of Butler County in this election,” Owens said. “We are right in the middle of a very important election and once again Butler County is in the middle of it. All eyes are on Butler County.”
All eyes were on West Chester in 2004 when President George Bush made a campaign stop at Voice of America Park. The event drew more than 50,000 people, and was one of the largest of its kind late in the incumbent’s campaign, according to organizers at the time.
In 2004, voting results showed the Bush/Cheney ticket in Butler County received 106,735 votes compared to 54,185 for the John Kerry/John Edwards campaign, a 66 percent to 34 percent edge.
That difference of 52,550 votes gave Butler County the largest plurality in the state, local campaign officials said then, with Warren and Clermont counties, also Republican strongholds, coming in second and third.
“We were recognized on a national level about our efforts of getting out the vote, and that’s probably why they’re bringing them here,” Owens said, adding the excitement may not be over.
“I have a feeling that we’re probably going to see Palin and McCain in southwest Ohio again by election day.”
The announcement of Palin’s visit comes on the heals of a recent scandal in her home state, now known as “Troopergate.”
Former Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan said Monday, Oct. 13 he felt “relieved” by a legislative report concluding that Palin abused her authority by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper.
Monegan declined to say in an interview with NBC’s “Today” show what legal options, if any, he might be exploring in the wake of the findings announced late Friday in Alaska by investigator Stephen Branchflower.
In his report Friday to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, Branchflower found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain. Palin has said that Monegan’s tenure as the state’s lead law enforcement officer ended because of policy differences.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Permalink | Comments (125) | Post your comment | Categories: 2008 Election
Connections plans to be discussed
West Chester Twp. Trustees will be presented with a plan Tuesday, Oct. 14, to better connect residents with their community … gasoline free.
At its meeting this week, trustees will be presented with the township’s Connections Plan, a part of the “Vision for West Chester in 2025.”
According to the release, “(a)n important goal of this plan is to allow citizens to enjoy West Chester without having to rely on the automobile.”
The regional plan includes ideas to connect people with their respective communities in the township and the Miami 2 Miami trail.
Work session begins before the trustees meeting at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14. Regular meeting to follow at 6 p.m. Both meetings take place at the Administration building off Cincinnati Dayton Road.
Here’s the release and copies of the plan. (Click on the upper right corner to enlarge.)
See anything you like or dislike? Is this a good idea for the township?
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: West Chester Twp. Government
What? No eggs?
Apparently, some guy from Georgia thought it would be funny to send a mysterious package to Congressman John Boehner’s office this week.
The grease-stained letter posed no immediate threat to Boehner or his staff, despite the fact his West Chester office was evacuated. (No immediate threat, unless you have extremely high cholesterol.) It was, after all, just bacon.
According to Boehner’s spokeswoman, the meat was meant to symbolize pork barrel spending, for which the sender believes Boehner is at least partially responsible.
There are no suspects at this time.
The package was sent in the wake of the past two weeks’ up and down (mostly down) stock market that responded to the nation’s $700 billion Wall Street bailout.
Thoughts on this? Much ado about nothing? Or is a threat a threat?
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Crime, Courts, Police
Roadwork
In the past week or so, we’ve had a couple of stories having to deal with Butler County roads.
The first was how a mysterious road salt shortage (that officials say is a result of a heavy winter last year) will be affecting the work of local maintenance departments.
One interesting quote from that story by Scott Bressler, operations deputy with the Butler County Engineer’s Office: “People will just have to learn how to drive on snow. They’ll just have to wait until the snow tapers off, and we plow it off. Then we’ll use the salt.”
Still, officials from West Chester and Liberty townships say they will operate normally … that is if and when the salt supplies run dry.
And here’s a story that ran in the Journal-News today about I-75 construction updates. (By the way, Kyles Station Road overpass opens today; Princeton Road overpass opens Oct. 13.)
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Election season in full swing
October means two things to me: Post-season baseball and election time.
(Unfortunately, it also typically means the Bengals are already out of the running.)
Click over to our new special election page, which includes voter and candidate profiles, local election stories and more.
Here’s the latest story about the race for the 55th State House seat, between incumbent Republican Bill Coley and Democrat Tony Klimek. See anything you like?
And Butler County reporter Josh Sweigart makes a good point about the race for state Senator in “that both incumbent Republican Sen. Gary Cates and Democratic Challenger Kathryn Bridgman are from West Chester Twp.” Does this say anything about where the power lies in Butler County?
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: 2008 Election
Stoker: Reynolds latest action political move
West Chester Twp. Trustee Catherine Stoker said today, Oct. 2, she won’t believe Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds’ desire to lower property valuation next year until she sees it.
Reynolds promised today to drop appraised home values in 2009, something he said the state forbid him to do this year during the reappraisal.
Here’s an excerpt from the news release:
“Reynolds has made several requests upon the State Tax Commissioner for an extension of the 2008 property reappraisal. The extension would allow time for the market to stabilize. Reynolds has been consistently told no. Therefore, Reynolds is taking the matter into his own hands on behalf of county property owners.”
Here’s the rest of the release. (Click the upper right corner to enlarge the box.)
After Reynolds, a Republican, presented a check to West Chester Trustees Sept. 23 as part of a rebate on collection fees, Stoker, a Democrat, urged the auditor to “show some backbone.” (Here’s that story.)
In response to Reynolds’ announcement, Stoker said, “I’m glad he’s saying that, but I’m waiting for some action.”
“It’s been my observation that some people will say anything during an election year.”
Stoker also said she wished Reynolds was more proactive. “He’s reacting to people that are saying this (the 2008 reappraisal) is wrong.”
What do you think about Reynolds’ announcement? Will it help east some pain for local home and property owners? Will it make a difference considering this year?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: West Chester Twp. Government
Early voting draws early crowd in Butler County
There’s still more than a month to go before that fateful day in November, but Ohioians have been able to cast their ballots for the past 24 hours.
Early voting has been permitted in Ohio based on Monday’s decision by U.S. District Court Judge James S. Gwin, which allowed Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to issue a directive that residents can register and vote at the same time.
Early voting continues through Oct. 6, and can only be done at the Butler County Board of Elections. (By the way, the BOE has a new location, at 1802 Princeton Road. Here’s a map.
Here’s a first-day story we ran in the Journal-News. And the story about the decision by the Associated Press.
As a result of the decision, the Butler County BOE has extended its hours for the next month:
Wednesdays, Oct. 1, 8 15, 22, 29: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturdays, Oct. 4, 7, 11, 18, 25: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Voter registration deadline)
Here’s what I want to know: Will you be using the next five days to vote early? Does this make voting more convenient? Is it fair?
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: 2008 Election
